00:00Good afternoon. Good morning. Good morning, Chairman Moran, Chairwoman Collins, Ranking Member Murray, Ranking Member Van Hollen, and Distinguished Members of the Subcommittee.
00:11I'm honored to appear before you today to present the President's Fiscal Year 2026 Budget for DOJ.
00:19I look forward to working with you to ensure continued support for the Department and our many critical missions.
00:26President Trump's 2026 budget proposal takes $34 billion for the Department of Justice.
00:33The money will support federal law enforcement as well as our state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners.
00:41My primary objective as Attorney General is to return the Department to its core mission of keeping Americans safe and vigorously enforcing the law.
00:51This budget will allow us to continue to do just that.
00:56Since January 20th, we have dismantled deadly fentanyl networks across our nation.
01:01We prosecuted MS-13 and TDA members using terrorism and RICO charges.
01:07We've seized thousands of illegal guns from cartels and extradited key cartel leaders into U.S. prisons.
01:14Last month, the FBI arrested 205 child predators in one single operation, and the DEA executed the largest fentanyl bust in the history of our country across four states.
01:30We've also surged FBI resources to investigate thousands of violent crime committed against American Indian and Alaska Native people.
01:39These are just a few examples of what we've achieved just thus far in such a short time.
01:45This budget will allow us to continue our crucial work.
01:49We've also led the charge to enforce our immigration laws, rebuild our immigration system after four years of chaos, and help secure our nation's borders.
01:59We must guarantee that our laws allow us to process, hold, and remove those who enter our country illegally.
02:07Our U.S. attorneys continue to effectively work with law enforcement at all levels to investigate and prosecute the increasing volume of immigration-related criminal offenses.
02:18Additionally, the President and I have established and reinvigorated three task forces to enforce the administration's priority.
02:28Homeland Security Task Force is enhancing federal and state local law enforcement throughout our country.
02:35Joint Task Force Alpha will continue to specifically target human trafficking and human smuggling networks that took root while our border was wide open, Senator Van Hollen,
02:47and Joint Task Force Vulcan will continue successful efforts to arrest and prosecute members of TDA and MS-13.
02:57We are also committed to making America safe again by reducing recidivism.
03:03The Bureau of Prison has suffered years of mismanagement, lack of funding, and low morale.
03:09Throughout my confirmation process, BOP came up in every single meeting, regardless of party affiliation.
03:18The President's budget proposal will address critical staffing shortages, enhance staff retention, and deliver positive changes to a system that has long needed improvements.
03:29The resources made available through President Trump's proposal will also empower the Department to continue fighting our war on fentanyl.
03:39Since January 2025, DEA has seized 41.5 million fentanyl pills and 4,470 kilos of fentanyl powder.
03:51It's a historic rate, but it's not enough.
03:55We won't rest until this poison is off our streets.
04:00And finally, the budget continues my commitment to find savings in the Department, reduce inefficiencies, and deliver value to the American taxpayer.
04:09In 2026, the Department will merge components that work in overlapping areas and make our law enforcement and our grant-making efforts more effective.
04:19We'll emerge from this as a leaner organization, better equipped to make American people safe from threats at home and abroad.
04:29Chairman Moran, Chairman Collins, Chairwoman Collins, Ranking Member Murray, Ranking Member Van Hollen,
04:36it is my pleasure to highlight our efforts and be good stewards of our resources.
04:41I'm working diligently to restore confidence and integrity to the Department and each of its components.
04:49Thank you for your continued support of the Department's financial needs and the opportunity to present our budget request.
04:56I look forward to working with you, and I'm happy to take any questions you might have.
05:01Thanks, Josh, when I look forward to working with you, and I look forward to working with you and whatever you need to work.
